Barn Rear Of Liverpool Old Road Sollom Tarleton Lancashire

1. 1.The proposed development, by virtue of the inclusion of a rear balcony and a full height glazed screen on the rear elevation, would introduce design elements that are visually intrusive and out of keeping with the established character of the Sollom Conservation Area and the significance of the non-designated heritage asset (NDHA). These features would result in a low level of less than substantial harm to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area and to the NDHA, contrary to: * National Planning Policy Framework (2024) – Chapter 16 (Conserving and enhancing the historic environment), which requires that any harm to the significance of a heritage asset be weighed against public benefits. In this case, the identified harm is not outweighed by public benefits. * West Lancashire Local Plan (2012–2027) – Policy EN4 (Preserving and Enhancing West Lancashire’s Cultural and Heritage Assets), which seeks to ensure that development preserves or enhances the character and appearance of Conservation Areas and respects the significance of heritage assets. * Sections 66(1) and 72(1) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, which impose a statutory duty to pay special attention to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of Conservation Areas. Accordingly, the proposal fails to meet the statutory and policy requirements to preserve the character and appearance of the Conservation Area and is considered unacceptable.
2. 2.The application fails to demonstrate that potential impacts on protected species have been adequately assessed and mitigated. Both Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service (MEAS) and the Merseyside & West Lancashire Bat Group advise that the submitted Ecological Impact Assessment is inadequate and that further surveys and information are required prior to determination, including updated bat assessments, two emergence surveys in the appropriate season, confirmation of surveyor credentials/licensing, and revision of mitigation proposals. In the absence of this information, the local planning authority cannot be satisfied that the development would conserve and enhance biodiversity or that impacts on protected species would be appropriately avoided or mitigated. The proposal therefore conflicts with: * National Planning Policy Framework (2024) – paragraph 193 (and associated guidance) requiring (a) if significant harm to biodiversity resulting from a development cannot be avoided (through locating on an alternative site with less harmful impacts), adequately mitigated, or, as a last resort, compensated for, then planning permission should be refused. * West Lancashire Local Plan (2012–2027) – Policy EN2 (Preserving and Enhancing West Lancashire’s Natural Environment), which requires adequate ecological evidence to demonstrate that biodiversity is conserved and enhanced.

From the council's decision notice.

Application type

Full Planning Application

Scale / size

Small

Parish

Tarleton

Date validated

11 December 2024

Consultation expiry

30 July 2025

Consultation start

9 July 2025

Consultation end

30 July 2025

Neighbour consultation start

17 December 2024

Neighbour consultation end

14 January 2025

Applicant

Private applicant

Agent

MWBRESIDENCE LIMITED

Agent address

MWBRESIDENCE Limited Unit B1 E, Towngate Works Dark Lane Mawdesley Ormskirk L40 2QU

Case officer

Eoin Burns

Planning Portal ID

PP-13593287

Documents

31